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Daily Scripture

+ 7th Week of Easter

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

Readings: Acts 20:17-27 Psalm 68:10-11, 20-21 John 17:1-11

I am in the world no longer, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. [John 17:11]

Shakespeare ‘penned’ the phrase quoted above. I didn’t understand it as a student of Shakespeare in high school but I began to understand it when I waved goodbye to my family as I sailed off to Italy on September 21, 1963 for a three-year stretch in Rome. In fact, it has multiple meanings and applications that I appreciate now more than ever before.

There is another phrase that perhaps gives credence to my thoughts so poorly expressed and it’s this: “Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Ah, that’s it. At times we need to separate from ‘the source’ in order to appreciate how important it is to stay connected.

The farewell speech of St. Paul in Acts and the farewell ‘prayer’ of Jesus in John’s gospel were more likely composed by the authors of these texts along the lines of the farewell speeches of great leaders of their times in order to attract the attention of Jesus’ followers.

The departure of Jesus and later that of Paul created ‘fallow’ time in the hearts of the neophyte believers that was absolutely necessary if they were to grasp the significance of Jesus’ message and the teachings of St. Paul.

We are once again in ‘fallow’ time as we prepare for Pentecost. It’s a time of discernment during which we are invited to ponder the words and deeds of Jesus so that in his absence, we may come to know his presence in the Spirit that remains within us and around us.

As we ponder, it is important to reflect on the gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and reverence of the Lord. And the fruits of the Holy Spirit are qualities that are characteristic of a community living in Christ: charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty self-control and chastity.

There is much to ponder as we wait for the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Daily Scripture

Wednesday November 24, 2004

+ Thanksgiving Day

Grateful people are healthy people; healthy people are grateful people.

“Were not ten made clean? Where are the other nine? Was there no one to give thanks except the foreigner?” [Luke 11:17-18]

An attitude of gratitude makes all the difference in the world. Indeed, grateful people are happy and healthy people.

This does not mean that as disciples of Jesus we are expected to live in denial about the reality of pain and suffering to say nothing of hatred, violence and war and just suck it up. No way.

It means rather that we adopt the mindset of Jesus and search first for the good in another person, no matter how disfigured it be. We may be rebuffed and we may even need to resort to ‘tough love’ but an attitude of gratitude for life and the recognition that there is potential for goodness (Godness) in others is a disposition that generates goodness and Godness.

Some people wake up in the morning and say, “I thought sure I would have a headache today after all I went through yesterday!” Healthy people wake up and say, “God, I’m grateful for this new day or grace and opportunity to do some good.” With which of the two would you like to spend your day?

Happy Thanksgiving!